METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ENHANCED BACTERIOPHAGE-BASED DIAGNOSTIC ASSAYS BY SELECTIVE INHIBITION OF POTENTIAL CROSS-REACTIVE ORGANISMS

摘要

A sample to be tested for the presence of a target microorganism is exposed to bacteriophage and conditions are provided to inhibit phage attachment to or replication in a potentially cross-reactive, non-target microorganism. The sample is incubated and assayed to detect the presence or absence of a bacteriophage marker to determine the presence or absence of the target microorganism. The inhibiting may comprise the addition of an inhibiting substance or the use of an inhibiting process. It may include inhibiting the growth of potentially cross-reactive bacteria while allowing growth of the target bacteria, selectively removing or blocking potential cross-reactive bacteria using selective binding agents or selectively destroying potentially cross-reactive bacteria.